Senate Moves Forward on $70 Billion Measure to Fund ICE, Border Patrol

Senate Republicans on Tuesday agreed to move forward on a blueprint for a party-line budget resolution to fund immigration enforcement and end the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse. In a 52–46 vote, the Senate approved moving forward the measure put forward by Senate Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The measure starts the budget reconciliation process, ordering House and Senate committees to write legislation that would provide up to $70 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other immigration agencies. The Senate is expected to move to final approval of the budget blueprint this week. Under the reconciliation process, which is governed by strict rules, lawmakers can bypass the normal filibuster requirements and pass party-line legislation in the upper chamber....